A van plowed into a group of people dining on a Los Angeles sidewalk, striking and injuring at least eight people.

A witness to the crash told The Associated Press the van jumped a curb and careened into a group of people eating outside The Fish Spot restaurant in the city's Mid-Wilshire neighborhood.

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"Everyone was eating, enjoying life and out of nowhere this van ran them over," Courtney Crump said.

He said several victims were pinned under the van as panicked witnesses rush to pull them out. A man who was the first person struck by van had severe head injuries, Crump said.

The victims included a 44-year-old man who suffered critical injuries, three who were seriously hurt and four others who were taken to the hospital in fair condition, Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said.

Nine people were assessed, the fire department said.

The driver came out of the van and appeared disoriented, Crump said. He jumped back into the van, prompting witnesses to hold him until authorities arrived at the scene.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. Police spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the crash appeared to be an accident. KABC-TV said the driver has been arrested.

A police spokesman says there is no apparent link to terror.

AP reporter Mike Balsamo contributed to this report. Dovarganes reported from Los Angeles and Nguyen reported from San Francisco.